Vehicle wheel



J. C. WELCH AND W. F. ALTENBAUGH.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED APR, 21. |920.

ammi/1to1'. .75555 6. WELCH J. C. WELCH AND W. F. ALTENBAUGH.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED APII. 27, 1920.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Snom,

UNITED STAT-es Jesse c.-

PATENT oFFicr..

WELCH, or 'recois/IA, AND WILLIAMFRANCIS ALTENBAUGH, or YEOMAN,

WASHINGTON; SAID ALTENDAUGII AssIGNoR :ro sAID WELCH.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

Application med April 27, 1920. serial No. 376,903.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that-we, JnssnC. VELCH and WILLIAM FRANors ALTENBAUGH, citizens of the United States, and residents of rlacoma, Pierce County, Washington, and

wheels for toy vehicles, wherein itis desired to provide strength, and lightnessof construction at a relatively small cost; the principal object of the inventionbeing to provide for the casting of hubs, spokes and 11e" inforcing bands on wheel bodies of wood,

or other light, durable and somewhatresilient material, in such a manner that such bodies will be Asufliciently strengthened to servie the purpose for which they are kdesired, and may be properly mounted.

It is also an object ofthe invention to provide wheels of this character wherein the wheel'bodies are constructed of a .plurality of sections whichare joined rigidlyby the castingof peripheral metallic bands on their opposite-faces that are joined.. together by Y awo ties that extend between the bands and are cast integral therewith.

A stillrfurther object ofthe inventionis to provide means whereby the felloe sections and spokes of wheels of the ordinary type may be secured functionally together by means of hubs cast Vabout the inner ends of the spokes, and by lugs .cast about outer ends of the spokes and adjacent ends of the felloe sections. Y l

' Another object ofthe invention is to adapt the above .method of reinforcingto wheels of a particular construction wherein the several sections of a band or ring that is revoluble upon a central body are joined functionally by a. track and tire cast and joined according to the present invention.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, we have provided the'im-V proved details of structure, the preferred forms of which .are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ,wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of a vehicle wheel constructed according to the present invention, showing a hub, spokes and peripheral band cast thereon.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of thesame.

Figure 3 'is a side view ofwheel of a diff' ferent type, consisting of a stationary .cen- 1 ter portion and a revolving rim having a ltire and roller bearing track cast thereon and joined together in accordance with the present invention.

Figure l is a central, vertical section of the wheel shown in Figure 3.k

Figure 5 is a side View of two felloe sections and a spoke of a wheel joined together,

according to the present invention, v j

Figure 6 is a sectional view' on the line 6-6 of Figure 5. l

vFigure 7 is a side view rofa wheel wherein the spokes and felloes are joined by castings and bands about their opposite faces, and at their inner ends the spokes Yhave a hub cast thereon.

Figure 8 is a vertical section of the wheel shown in Figure 7. l Referring more in detail to the several figures o f the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts; 1 desig natesa circular wheel body, lpreferably v wood, or other light, substantial' and somewhat resilient material,-provided at its center with an opening 2, about its periphery with a circular row of apertures 3, and intermediate the row of apertures 3 and center opening 2 with a circular row of apertures 4. y Cast within the` body of the'wheel and extending through the opening 2, is a metallic hub' which may, if desired, have extended bearing portions G at opposite sides of the body and hasa bore 7 concentric with the axial line of the body for receiving an axle or `spindle 8. Cast integrally with the hub to koverlie opposite sides of the body, are flanges 9 and y10, whichare joined by metal ties 11 which extendY through the Vapertures 4 and areintegral with the lianges.

- Arranged concentrically 4about the hub, on oppositeY faces of the body, are two reinforcingl bands 12 which follow the line of apertures 8 and are joined together by ties 13 whichextend between'the bands through these apertures. Spokes lt'pmay also be cast integrally with the hub and bands to additionally stifen the body.

VIn Figures 3 and 4 wehave illustrated a Awheel of a particular type of construction,

wherein a circular, central body portion 15 is equipped with a plurality of rollers 16,

mounted equidistant from a central point,

and upon which a ring-like rim 17 is adapted to revolve. On the outer surface Vof this rim 17 We have cast a tire or band, 18, and on the innery side a track cooperates with the rollers to 'mount tlief rim upon'the body 15.'

`not onlystrengthen the rim but also will retain its sectionslin proper relation.

VFigures 5 vand 6 illustrate the joining of Vtwo ielloe sections and thespoke of a wheel by means of a casting 22 thatv is formed about thev parts to be joined. @In this, 'the ends of the elloe sections 23 Vare provided Vwith apertures 24, andthe metal When poured f Vabout 'the parts'to form the lug runs through these apertures, forming ties 25, which, be-

ing a part` of the casting'Will-.prevent the parts being separated.

Vheels of the usual type, -comprisinga plurality offelloe sections, and spokes, may bei-joined as shown by Figures? and 8,

-.whe.rein the several felloe sections are joined i aoV by means of bands 26, cast on their opposite faces and .joined` by transverse ties27,las previously described, and kthe .spokes are joined. to thefelloes by castings 28 formed `as is shown in Figure 5, or cast integral with the bands.A Ahub 30inay. be cast centrally of the wheel about the inner `ends offall the spokes.` f .f V11n making Wheels ofthe-character disclosed inFigures land 2, amoldiisv first-provided, ywherein/the Wooden body maybe placed. '.lheTmetalI for the hub andl peripheral'bands is-then poured into the mold so that all parts Will'be simultaneously and integrally cast. .By using the vproper metal,the

hub :and bands thus cast will quickly coolandnodamagevvill be Vdone to the body.

f The yother type of .Wheels illustrated are also formed after` the. rim sections.- and spokesv are. properly arranged in suitable molds which Will mold' the cast.- metal hub and lugs,` as described.v i

. 'It is apparentthat by this method of'con-V structiona Wooden body, or a plurality/ofbody sections, may be substantially strengthened to withstand heavy pressure, and a hub with anezitended bearing surface provided. l't is alsonoted that Withvthehubs flanged on bothl sides 4ofi the body aIlOl bands also provided on both sidesof the bodyvhichV are joinedby the integrally cast ties, the body Iis greatly strengthened against lateral strain 'anda Wooden Wheel of a plurality, or of a single piece, With the grain of the'wood all in the samev direction, may be made practically unbreakable.

What We claimjfas new, isz-V A vehicle'Wheel'comprisingfa circularV -body portionhaving acentral opening and a plurality of apertures spaced fromfthe central opening, andia hub cast Within the'cen` tral opening and having flanges formed .inf tegrally therewith overlying Vopposite :'ace's of the body and joined' by integrally cast ties extending .through saidl apertures.-

2. A vehicle Wheelv comprising a'circular Woodenbody having a central'opening;l and a circular -roW of apertures Vconcentric With the body, ahub` castv Withinthe central :opening and extending at oppositev sides of the-body to .form :an extendedspindle` bearing; vrsaid hub having flanges cast integrally therewith 'to overlie opposite. faces of the body andlto extendbeyondthe rowofapertures and Y joined. by'fintegra-lly cast .ties` extending i through said apertures. 1

f 3. In a vehicle'wheeha circular body-por! 1 tion having a circular row of f apertures therethrough ladjacent its periphery, and annular` bands cast on .oppositeaces ofV the body and-joinedbyr integrally icast'. `ties-ein f I tending through said. bodyap'ertures: Q 1

4. :A vehiclerwheel comprisingalcircular body. portion having. a central'fopening. and f a circular row of apertures adjacent .its per'` Y riphery, a hub cast within the central open-VV ingV and'.eXtendingon-.opposite sidesE of the y I body, annular reinforcing bands-.cast on opposite faces oilthe bodya'ndjoined by ties cast .integrally .therewith anddext'e'nding throughthefsaid apertures and. a .plurality Y Y ofV spokesfcast integrally! with. thehuband bands 'and extending. along opposite; faces of the body. n i Y Signedl at Tacomav,a.Pierce County, Washington, this 16th daycf April, 1920.-, 

